Remarks transcript, Aug 11, 2026 (Donald Trump)

So the Patriot Games were tremendous, a tremendous success. Great young athletes, the future of our country. And we had a great time in Ohio, a fantastic time in Ohio.

The country is doing well. The stock market is fantastic. Record—we have 79 records, so far, in a short period of time. More people are working right now in the United States than ever before, and prices are dropping fast.

Iran is going fine—going just absolutely fine. We totally control the Strait of Hormuz. We have control over it. Nobody else, only us. Our Navy is unbelievable. And things are going great for our country.

Go ahead.

Mr. President, can you tell us about your ride on the airport catering truck in Turkey? Why did you need to do that?

Well, it's only up to Secret Service. I just follow what they'd like to do. So I go by Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane, equal safety, but they wanted me to do it, so I do it. I do what they say.

What was the nature of the threat?

I guess there was a threat out there. I didn't really ask too much about it. I get a lot of threats.

Mr. President, Darline Graham has made it to the runoff election in South Carolina.

I heard. Good.

What are you going to do to help her get over the finish line?

Well, she just called me to thank me for the endorsement, and it's great that she's doing so well. And she's a very good woman, and she's got good genetics because she's related to Lindsey, who's a real professional. So we'll see.

I'm going to call her right now. She just called me 2 minutes ago. She won by how many points?

Well, it's not done yet, but she's clearly the victor as opposed to all the other people.

She's definitely in a runoff, and that's good. That's what you want.

Will you campaign for her down in South Carolina?

Yes, I think so. Yes. I mean, just so you understand, I like the other people in the race also. They're all Trump. I mean, they're all Trumpers. But, you know, I endorsed her. I think she's great. It's really in honor of her brother, and she's really a very smart woman. You know, Lindsey loved his sister. More than anything else, he would tell me about his sister, that she's just outstanding. He actually said she's better than him. That was hard for Lindsey to say.

So she's out there. She's doing a great job.

Mr. President, you've mentioned 2028 several times in the last few weeks. At the dinner, you put on a Trump 2028 hat.

Yes.

Are you serious about seeking a third term?

Everybody asks me that question, and you know that the law is very strong on that. I'd love to run, but the law is very strong. I get asked by every—well, even tonight they're screaming at the event, "2028."

No, everybody wants me to do it, but the law is very strong.

Thank you very much, everybody.

Mr. President——

The Turkey flight. Air Force One still flew out of Turkey with press, with White House officials on it. How much of——

Well, this one went over to England where it was shown to the soldiers.

But it was still at risk even though you weren't——

No, I know. But this one went over to England because the soldiers wanted to see it.

Right. But the one that——

And it stopped, and they showed it to the soldiers, and we did a switch over there. And it was really as per the military, and I just have to do what they say. They go for safety, and I have to do what they say.

Mr. President, on the midterms——

Why was it too dangerous for you to fly on Air Force One but not too dangerous for the press?

Well, I don't know. I think, actually, the plane that I flew on was at greater risk. I think it was at greater risk——

Why do you say that?

——because that would be the plane, I think, that we—that they would be more likely to go for.

Mr. President——

Were you surprised, Mr. President, that the Secret Service was telling you to take that third plane?

No, not surprised. I have a lot of threats. I have a lot of threats that you don't know about. Any consequential President has a lot of threats. Nonconsequential Presidents don't get threatened. And I think that I'm maybe the most consequential.

How close was Iran to pulling something off do you think?

Mr. President, may I ask——

Because nobody has done more than me in a period of almost 6 years. There's nobody.

Were you worried about a shoulder-fired missile?

I don't worry about anything, to be honest. Whatever it is—you know my attitude? Whatever.

How can you trust Iran at all? They tried to kill you, Mr. President.

I don't trust Iran. Why? Are you saying I trust Iran? I'm the last person to trust Iran. They've lied to me constantly. We have total control over the Hormuz Strait right now. They don't have control. We have total control. We own it. And at some point, maybe they'll do something, and then they get blown away.

But we—right now we're in a very good position. We have a country that has been the bully of the Middle East for 50 years. It's really, 51, if you think about it, right? We've been saying 47 for 4 years. And they're no longer the bully of the Middle East.

Thank you very much, everybody.